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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 E2OtJR7/VqHOyMcGyuPEXU3reXrQQftogJ1abVKFPeS1a+19mksuP8DHanCnHzMe
 OqlZ5i7sREh6lsMKGEkkng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000732713-03-000080.txt : 20030519
<SEC-HEADER>0000732713-03-000080.hdr.sgml : 20030519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030507175244
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000732713-03-000080
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030505
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030507
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20030516

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BROWN HYATT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001168820

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08607
		FILM NUMBER:		03686923

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		213 RIVERSIDE DRIVE
		CITY:			ORMOND BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32176

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BELLSOUTH CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000732713
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				581533433
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1155 PEACHTREE ST NE
		STREET 2:		ROOM 15G03
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30309-3610
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4042492000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1155 PEACHTREE STREET NE
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30309-3610
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-05</periodOfReport>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000732713</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BELLSOUTH CORP</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>BLS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001168820</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROWN HYATT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1428</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>24.504</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>80774</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><deri
vativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Deferral Shares</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>112.0046</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>24.504</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2007-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2016-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>112.0046</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOw
nedFollowingTransaction><value>13181.3398</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">INCLUDES SHARES OF PHANTOM STOCK ACQUIRED AS A RESULT OF REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS ACCRUED ON PHANTOM SHARES PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED UNDER VARIOUS DEFERRAL PLANS IN TRANSACTIONS EXEMPT UNDER RULE 16b-3 AND DEFERRED INTO PHANTOM ACCOUNT.</footnote><footnote id="F2">SHARES OF PHANTOM STOCK CONVERT TO COMMON STOCK ON A ONE-FOR-ONE BASIS.</footnote><footnote id="F3">PAID OUT 1/10 PER YEAR BEGINNING ON 01/01/2007</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Marcy A. Bass, Attorney in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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